Heart

PROFILE

Composer

Richard Adler

Lyricist

Jerry Ross

Year Written

1955

About Heart

“Heart” is from the smash 1955 musical Damn Yankees. Based on the Faust legend, the musical is set in the 1950s in Washington, D.C., where, as usual, the New York Yankees dominated their division. A fan of the competing Washington Senators sells his soul to the devil for a long ball hitter that could help the Senators beat the Yankees. It starred Ray Walston and a young Gwen Verdon as Lola. The choreographer was Bob Fosse. Fosse and Verdon would later marry and work together for many years.

Lyrics

You’ve gotta have heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin’ you’ll never win
That’s when the grin should start
You’ve gotta have hope
Mustn’t sit around and mope
Nothin’s half as bad as it may appear
Wait’ll next year and hope

When your luck is battin’ zero
Get your chin up off the floor
Mister you can be a hero
You can open any door, there’s nothin’ to it but to do it
You’ve gotta have heart
Miles ‘n miles n’ miles of heart
Oh, it’s fine to be a genius of course
But keep that old horse
Before the cart
First you’ve gotta have heart

1955

“Heart” was recorded on June 9, 1955 and released that year on Columbia’s All Star Pops. It was arranged by Sid Feller.